No. 10 · 25 October 2026
Two defeats and one lead
Real Madrid won the Clásico 2–1 five days after Paris Saint-Germain won 4–2, and Barça stay top on 27 points with four defenders injured.
Writing about Barça in English since 2009. One dispatch after each round of matches: five topics, the men's team and the Femení, nothing in between.
- 01MatchBarça's patched defence has now failed to protect two gamesBarça equalised against Real Madrid and still lost, as they did in Paris, because a back line that is half injured and half improvised cannot protect a game. The table can afford two defeats in a week, and the defence was not there for either of them.
- 02MatchFlick admitted the first of Barça's two defeats was fairParis ended Barça's unbeaten start with the first of two defeats in five days, and the first half shows it was deserved. Flick was right to say so on the night.
- 03SquadEspart's injury means January money should go on defendersXavi Espart's injury makes him the fourth defender Barça have lost, and with Jules Koundé also out the right side now depends on João Cancelo. Dani Olmo's month out is far easier to cover, so whatever the club can spend in January should go on defenders.
- 04FemeníBarça should have hired a woman coach before FIFA askedFIFA made a woman on the coaching staff compulsory in March for teams in its women's competitions, and on Friday the Femení's head coach said the club was still choosing the person. A hire that should have been Barça's own idea now looks like FIFA's homework.
- 05La MasiaBarça's Under-19s paid for their method and should keep itBarça's Under-19s drew 1–1 at Paris Saint-Germain after losing the ball while playing out from the back. The goal was the cost of the method, and the club should keep paying it.
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